Jak-Japan Matsuri 2012 is a Japanese and Indonesian Culture festival both traditional or pop culture. This year is the the 4th year of this festival. The visitor who came to this festival is not only Indonesian people but also Japanese people who live in Indonesia, especially in capital city of Jakarta. According to the theme which is “to strengthen the friendship between Indonesia and Japan”, in this festival Indonesian people didn’t hestitate to work with Japanese people , and helping each other look to the success of this event, even many Indonesian citizens who took part in the Japanese dance .

This is one of the Japanese Traditional Culture known as Mikoshi [神輿].Mikoshi usually interpreted to Portable Shrine or the temple that can be carried. Mikoshi derived from the teaching of Shintoism are shared by many Japanese citizens. Mikoshi is believed to be the vehicle of the Gods to the temporary temple while at the festival, or when the main temple is moved out to the new location. The unique part is this temple is borne jointly by the residents, usually men, but there are also mikoshi carried by women or children.

There are 4 different types how to carry mikoshi, the normal way just by carried up in the shoulder and takes the mikoshi walk, called as 平 担ぎ [Hira-Katsugi] when shouldering this way is usually the bearers shouting words わっ しょい [Wasshoi], this shout actually has no meaning but some people interpret it as “hip-hip hurray” with a deeper meaning. There are also ways called as [Edomae] 江 戸 前 this way is very well known, especially in the event Sanja Matsuri [三 社 祭]. Edomae way is by shaking Mikoshi quickly up or down and sometimes swing to the left or right. Sanja Matsuri Shinto itself is the biggest festival in Tokyo. The third way is ドッコイ [Dokkoi] are commonly used in the area of ​​Shonan, Kanagawa prefecture, usually of wood used to raise the mikoshi is only composed of two large trunks, unlike the way Edomae in Tokyo, Dokkoi way is slower and rhythmic, with mikoshi wiggle up and down, and the bearers will shout “Dokkoi Dokkoi Dokkoi Sorya”. The last one is 小田原 担ぎ [Odawara] are commonly used in the city of Odawara, westtern side of Kanagawa prefecture, how to carry the mikoshi is different from the others because it is usually some Mikoshi met, and brought it by running, even when meeting the corner, so it looks like a drifting car.

As has been mentioned before, this event is not only shows the traditional culture, but also pop culture. Seen at the event many of the cosplayers milling everywhere, and here’s some cute girls doing cosplay and some JKT48 members in Jak-Japan Matsuri 2012.